It’s official: I’m going to Los Angeles (specifically Redondo Beach) in December! 
My friend and I spent a couple hours on the phone with each other yesterday yesterday, getting tickets to the show (Hot Chocolate Nutcracker) and then making hotel reservations and buying plane tix – separately, but the same hotel and flights (with seats next to each other). I’ve never been to LA but neither of us is interested in doing anything else in that area[1], so it’s a ridiculously short trip: we fly cross-country on a Saturday, the show is Sunday afternoon, and we fly home on Monday. It’s also a ridiculously expensive trip, because we each sprang for refundable, first-class tickets (and nonstop flights). We fly out the day after a big, week-long technical project review that I’ve been working toward since the summer[2], so my brain will be fried and I’ll be exhausted: I’ve never flown first class before, and I think I’ll be glad that I splurged! After I get home I’ll be taking the rest of that week off, so I’ll have time to indulge my hermit tendencies and recover from both work and the trip. I’ll have to remember to leave myself a holiday Lego set or two to build that week, because I won’t be able to afford to buy anything for a while. 
I worked from home today and was a pretty big slacker this afternoon, even though my to-do list is a mile long. I just couldn’t get my head in the game. I feel a little guilty about it, but I guess it happens from time to time. I’m happy to be officially done for the day, and able to go play with Lego for a while.
Catching up on the end of the previous MMP before diving into this one… 
It remains a mystery to me how I do have the patience! LOL! Nothing else I’ve tried scratches the same “theraputic” itch: puzzles, wood models, etc. It’s weird, but I’ve come to accept that this is pretty much where my disposable income goes now.
Beautiful, indeed!
My work here is done! 
(Too bad there’s no referral program…LOL)
Thanks! 
Ever since it came out I’ve been on the fence about whether I want it. On one hand it’s a small/simple set and I already have waaaaaay too much holiday Lego, but on the other hand it is cute! It’s backordered online (no surprise), but if I go to the Lego store again before the end of the year I might look for it.
I had no idea there was such a thing! I don’t use those kinds of calendars, otherwise one would be on its way already.
Gotcha! I guess I haven’t paid enough attention to your posts to be tracking how old you are/when your honeymoon might have been…sorry.
That would shake anyone up! Glad you’ve regained some equilibrium.
With their “high-debt, low-spending” model they almost definitely would not agree to it. 
I understand those words individually but not when they’re strung together like that…
LOL! But don’t be put off: Lego flowers and trees are definitely more of a PITA than buildings.